Angle iron clamp



Jul 13,1943. B H D R 2,324,361

ANGLE IRON CLAMP Filed June 15, 1942 IN VENT OR.

T B. Chandler H rromveyv.

Patented July 13, 1943 UNiTED STATES: earsnr OFFICE ANGLE IRON CLAMPTommie B. Chandler, Compton, Calif.

Application June 13, 1942, Serial No. 446,968

3 Claims.

My invention relates to an angle iron clamp, and more particularly to aclamp for engaging and lifting elements having an angle thereon, as forexample a pre-fabricated deck section in ship building, having angleirons thereon. The invention, of course, has many other uses.

An object of the invention is to provide means for gripping an angleshaped member to lift same without fear of accidentally dropping it.

Still another object is to provide locking means for such a clamp thatwill utilize the weight to be lifted as means for locking the clamp inposition, and to provide means to prevent removal of the clamp withoutconsiderable displacement of a lifting member of the device, to avoiddropping the lifted element by slight accidental movement.

My invention also has for its objects to provide such means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a workingposition and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture,relatively and of general superiority and serviceability.

My invention also comprises novel details of construction and novelcombinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear inthe course of the following description. However, the drawing merelyshows and the following description merely describes one embodiment ofthe present invention, which is given by way of illustration or exampleonly.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in theseveral views.

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a device embodying the foregoingobjects, shown partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section, looking in the directionof the arrow A.

Fig. 3 is an elevational View, partly in vertical section, showing alocking member in a different position than shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. i is a perspective view of the locking member.

Fig. is a perspective view of a body member comprised in the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral 5generally designates the body member while the numeral 1 designates thelocking member, which is pivoted on the body member at 8.

The body 6 comprises side members 9 and Ill. Spacers l2 and 13 aredisposed between the side members substantially at the top and bottom ofthe device. It is believed clear that the side members and spacermembers may be a single,

integral member. A plate l4 welded on the side of the body 6 afiords astiffening member. However, the plate M may be eliminated if desired.

The body 6 has jaws l5 and I6 between which may be inserted a flange I!of an angle iron. The locking member I may then be swung to the positionshown in Fig. 1, with its face l8 contacting another flange IQ of theangle iron.

The side members 9 and ill have alined, irregular slots having upwardlyinclined portions 20 and downwardly curved portions 2|. The lockingmember 1 has a substantially straight slot 22 that is not parallel withthe slot portion 20, in fact, the slot 22 is more inclined than the slotportion 20, as perhaps best shown in Fig. 1. Beyond the end of the slot2!], the beginning of the slot 2 i is beveled, as shown at 30.

A bail 23 pivots on a pin 24 that extends through the slots in the bodyand in the locking member. For bolting the locking member 1 in place,apertures 26 and 21 are provided in the side members and in the lockingmember 1.

A bolt 28 passed through the apertures 26 and 2'! fastens the lockingmember 1 in a locked position, as best shown in Fig. 1. A nut 29 on thebolt maintains the bolt in position. To be able to swing the member I,the bolt 28 is, of course, removed.

It is to be understood that the shape of the faces of the jaws l5 andi6, which are opposed to each other, may be changed for different typesand shapes of work, as desired.

In the operation of my device, the locking member 1 is released byallowing the pin 24 to descend in the slots. After the pin 24 is movedout of the slot 20, it strikes the bevel 30, thus initiating movement ofthe pin 24 down the slot 2 I, to the position shown in Fig. 3.

The jaws l5 and i6 may then be slid over a flange i! of an angle-shapedmember and as the pin is raised in the slots, the locking member 7 ismoved to the closed position shown in Fig. 1. Movement of the pin 24lengthwise of the slots 2| eifects the maximum closing or openingmovement of the locking member 1. Movement of the pin 24 lengthwise ofthe slots 20 and 22 toward the upper ends thereof provides progressiveclamping action by the locking member 1, due to the greater incline ofthe slot 22 than the slots 20.

To release the device, there must be sufficient movement of the pin 24to free it from the slots 29. Since the slots 20 are of some length,slight accidental movement of the bail 23 or of the pin 24 will notrelease the locking member 1 and drop the engaged angle iron. Before theangle iron can be released, the pin 24 must be moved entirely out of theslots 26. For angle irons having a flange as relatively wide as theflange ll, the locking member 1 must be moved substantially above thelower face of the upper jaw l5, before such a flange can be removed frombetween the jaws l5 and IS. The arcuate slots 2! permit swingingmovement of the locking member 1 above the lower face of the jaw H), assuch jaw is shown in the drawing.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as thepreferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course,subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to theparticular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire toavail myself of all modifications that may fall within the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A lifting device comprising a body having in its lower portion fixedupper and lower jaws defining between a laterally opening throatapproximately normal to the effective perpendicular axis of the body forreceiving a portion of flanged work, a locking member pivotedintermediate its ends on said body to swing laterally with respectthereto, the lower portion of which memher is shiftable in its closedposition to a perpendicular position spaced from, and relative to thework receiving throat, said body having above the jaws a generallyupright slot including an upper approximately straight portion and alower generally angular portion, said locking member having a generallystraight, lengthwise slot in its upper portion approximately coextensivein length with the upper straight portion of the body slot and spacedfrom its pivot to swing across the angular lower portion of the bodyslot, and an upper bail member for the body having a pin extendingthrough the body and locking member slots which, when the device isunloaded, is movable in the lower angular portion of the body slot toeffect quick opening swing of the locking member.

2. A lifting device comprising a body having in its lower portion fixedupper and lower jaws defining between a laterally opening throatapproximately normal to the effective perpendicular axis of the body forreceiving a portion of flanged work, a locking member pivotedintermediate its ends on said body to swing laterally with respectthereto, the lower portion of which member is shiftable in its closedposition to a perpendicular position spaced from, and relative to, thework receiving throat, said body having above the jaws a generallyupright slot including an upper approximately straight portion and alower generally angular portion, said locking member having a generallystraight lengthwise slot in its upper portion approximately coextensivein length with the upper straight portion of the body slot and spacedfrom its pivot to swing across the angular lower portion of the bodyslot, and an upper bail member for the body having a pin extendingthrough the body and locking member slots which, when the device isunloaded, is movable in the lower angular portion of the body slot toeffect quick opening swing of the locking member, the slot of thelooking member being inclined out of line with the upper portion of thebody slot to effect a slow movement of the lower portion of the lockingmember toward the jaws of the body by the movement of the bail pin whenthe device is under load.

3. A lifting device comprising a body having in its lower portion fixedupper and lower jaws at one side of its perpendicular axisdefiningbetween them as inwardly opening throat normal to saidperpendicular axis for receiving a portion of flanged work, a lockingmember pjvoted intermediate its ends on said body at the opposite sideof the perpendicular axis of the latter, and swingable on its said pivotto project its lower portion, in the closed position, normal to the saidbody jaws and spaced from the throat opening, the upper portions of saidlocking member and said body having non-aligned generally upright slotsand the slot of the body having a lower angular portion arranged to becrossed by the slot of the locking member during swinging movement ofthe latter between open and closed positions, and a bail at the upperportion of the body' having a pin extending through the slots of thebody and locking member.

TOMMIE B. CHANDLER.

